Amusement device



March 18 1924. ,487,274

' R. SCHAFER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed QCL. 5 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MTA/56655 fil-)Elx 56h/AFER) R. scHArr-'ER AMUSEMENT DEVICE March 18 1924.

Filed 001'.. 5. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 affonda,"

R. SCHAFER AMUS EMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 5. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 18;'1924.

.Ji/A

Patented Mar. 18, 1924;e

NPATENT oFFicE.

anx SCHAFER, or LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

AM'USEMENT DEVICE.

Applicationv mea october 5, 1923. 'serial No. 666,777.

T @ZZ fr0/wm it may concern.'

Be it known that I, REX SGHAFER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Amusement Device, of which the following is a specification.'

This invention relates to amusement devices and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel device for amusement parks, which will provide a maximum amount of pleasure for the patrons thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for amusement parks` comprising an endless flexible train or carrier upon which persons are adapted to sit arranged to travel around a tortuous course disposed either in a horizontal or inclined plane, the tortuous course embodying a plurality of relatively short turns or curves giving the carrier or train a pleasing and novel movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel endless train or carrier are ranged to travel about an endless vcourse hav ing constructed thereon different figures, simulating various kinds of animals. and reptiles, the figures having secured thereto saddles or seats upon which the patrons of the amusement device are adapted to sit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device of the above character, thatis flexible in construction and so arranged as to safely carry a load and at the same time provide fun and amusement for persons carried by the structure, the mechanism providing amusement'to persons viewing the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an amusement device of the cha`racter stated embodying a plurality of trucks, and novel means for binding the trucks together, to permit the same to follow the torf tuous course over which the carrier is adapted to travel, the trucks having resiliently connected therewith the body of a figure on which the persons are adapted to ride.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for incorporating a power unit in one of said trucks to bring about the propelling of the carrier over and around the tortuous course.

A ,further object of the invention is to provide a novel king pin structure carried by each truck forming a spindle for hori- Zontally disposed guide rollers and a bearing -for a horizontallydisposed shaft for supporting vertical wheels for helping to sustain the load of the trucks, the novel king pin structures also forming means for flexibly binding the vtrucks together.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel supporting members for the trucksrfor engaging a hidden track for helping to sustain the load and novel means for connecting the supporting members with the truck and with one another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel pony truck carried by the leading supporting truck to form a guide therefor, to eliminate any tendency of the trucks to sway out of a given line or path.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel amusement device of the above character, which will be durable and ecient in use, one that will be compara tively simple'and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

` W'ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation ofparts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingy drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal fragmentary section through a portion of the amusementy device illustrating the formation of the power or propelling truck.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a portion of the device taken directly in rear of Figure 1 and illustrating the Vconstruction of the trailing trucks arranged in rear of the propelling or power trucks. t

Y 16 formed in the floor.

Figure 3 is a Jfragmentary plan view partly in section of one of the gures connected with the trucks.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section through a pair of the trailing trucks.

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section through the driving or propelling trucks.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2 illustrating one of the trailing trucks.

Figure 7 is a detail section taken on the line 7--7 of Figure 2 illustrating the novel king pin.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view in plan showing the arrangement of the guiding sheaves or drums which form the tortuous way or course for the carrier.

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section through the iioor of the amusement device illustratingone of the guiding drums or sheaves in detail.

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the guiding cables illustrating the novel take-up therein.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding. parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved amusement device as an entirety, which includes the supporting base B and the endless carrier C.

The supporting device B comprises a floor 15 which may be disposed in a horizontal plane or in an inclined plane. As shown the floor 15 is arranged in a horizontal plane and is provided with a tortuous slot or a guideway 16, the purpose of which, will be hereinaitermore fully described. This floor 15 can be supportedby suitable beams 17 held in position by posts or standards 18. These standards 18 can rest directly upon the ground, a concrete base, or beams 19 which are' also utilized for supporting a horizontally disposed guide track 20, which is arranged directly below and in alignment with the slot or guideway 16 formed in the iloor 15.

Arranged directly below the floor 15 are disposed spaced guide drums 25 and these guide drums are arranged at' advantageous points around the tortuous guideway orslot Each drum 25 comprises a circular body 26 which supports upper and lower relatively large guide sheave wheels 27, which are bolted as at 28 to the upper and lower surfaces of the body. The upper and lower sheaves 27 are adapted to receive and form guides for upper and lower flexible cables and/41 which form a part of the carrier B, which will be hereinafter more fully described. These drums 25 are rotatably mounted upon suitable shafts 29 which can rest in suitable bearings carried by the drums. The shafts 29 can be secured in any preferred way to the floor 15 or beams 19. It is obvious that the drums can be positively rotated and thus act as driving means for the upper and lower cables 40 and 41. However, means which will be more fully described hereinafter, is provided for positively driving the carrier C over the licor and around the tortuous guideway deinedrby the slot 16 in the floor.

The terminals of the cables 40 and 41 can be connected to novel devices for permitting any slack to be taken up therein and as shown Figure 10, a sleeve 30 is provided for each cable terminal and this sleeve can be rigidly secured to any preferred portion of the carrier C. ylhe sleeve 30 is provided with internal threads 31 and receives an adjusting nut 32, which is adapted to bear against a head 33 slidably mounted in the sleeve. This head is secured to the cable terminal in lany desired way. lt can be seen that by threading the nut 32 into and out of the sleeve 30 that the tension of the cable can be readily regulated.

The carrierB comprises any preferred number of figures which are constructed to simulate various animals, reptiles and the like and these figures are secured by means, which will be hereinafter more fully described, at spaced points to the cables 40 and 41. l

Each ligure 45 comprises a pair et leading trucks 46 and 47, which also constitute the propelling portions of the carrier and a plurality of trailing trucks 48. The trucks'46, 47, and 48 are all constructed along the same principle, and as shown, the leading trucks 46 and-47 comprise upper and lower supporting blocks 49 and 50, which are connected together in spaced relation by means of a connecting strap which is bent around the blocks to closely embrace the same. li desired the strap 51 can be bolted to the blocks 49 and 50. The terminals of the strap 51 are extended above the block 49 and arranged in abutting re-j lation to form a supporting standard 52 and at the eXtreme upper end et the standard 52 the strap ends are bent outwardly to provide attaching and supporting ears 53.

The truck 46 carries a vertically disposed king pin 54, which is rotatably mounted in the lower block and this king pin is provided with ahead 55, which is rotatably mounted in the upper block 49. The upper lock 49 is suitably recessed to receive the head 55 and slotted as at 56 which coinmunicates withthe recess tor receiving the forward end or a connecting rod 57, which is utilized to connect the truck 46 with the lirst trailing truck 48. The head 55 of the king pin 54 rockably supports a nut 58 for swinging movement in a horizontal plane and this nut receives the forward end of the connecting red 57 and by this construction it can be seen that the connecting rod 57 is free in a horizontal and lvertical plane to permit the binding of the trucks together for swinging movement. Arranged above the block 49 is a suitable bearing block 59, which can be secured to the strap 51 and this bearing block 59 rotatably supports a transverse axle 60 the terminals of which are keyed to drive wheels 61. The drive wheels 61 engage the floor 15 on opposite sides of the slot 16and the floor canbe provided with suitable tracks 14 Figures 5 and 6.

The shaft 60 has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a drive beveled gear wheel 62,y which has meshing therewith a bevel pinion 63, keyed or otherwise secured to the armature shaft 64. A suitable bearing 66 is also carried by the strap 51. for' supportingthe armature shaft 64 and the electric motor can be mounted upon a platform 67, which can be carried by the connecting rod 68 utilized for connecting the truck 46 with the truck 47 As clearly shown, in Figure 1 of the drawings, the connecting rod 68 is connected by means of apivot bolt 69 with a `pair of rigid angle brackets 70, which are bolted or otherwise secured to the strap 51. The connecting rod 68 is similar to the connecting rod 57, with the exception that the forward end thereof is set upwardly and forwardly, as can be clearly seen by referring to the drawings. The forward end of the connecting rod 68 is connected to a king pin 71 which is of the same type as the king pin 54 carried by the truck 46 and the connecting rod is connected in the same manner to the king pin 71 as the connecting rod 57 is connected to the king pin 54. It can also be seen that the king pin is supported by upper and lower blocks 72 and 78 which are of the same construction as the upper and lower blocks 49 and 50 of the truck 46. The blocks 72 and 73 are also held together by means of a strap` 74 which is identically the same construction as the strap 51. The strap 74 also carries a bearing 75 for the transverse axle 76 which carries floor engaging wheels 77, which correspond to the Hoor engaging drive wheels 61. Each of the king pins 54 and 71 have rotatably mounted thereon a guide wheel 78 and these guide wheels 78 are arranged in a horizontal plane and engage the walls of the slot 16 formed in the floor, and permit the ligure to follow the curvatures of the slot. Each of the lower blocks 5() and 73 also carries a transverse axle 79, the terminals of which carry wheels 8O which are adapted to engage the lower surface of the floor on each side of the slot 16 andsuitable tracks can be provided for these wheels if so desired.k

In order to bring about the supplying` of current to themotor 65, a depending trolley arm 81 is carried by the connecting rod 68 of the floor 15 and this bracket 86 is boltedy or otherwise secured as` `at 87 to the forward' end of the truck 47. This bracket 86 rotatably su'pports a vertically4 disposed aXle 88 on which is mounted a guide wheel 89, which is so constructed as to engage the opposite walls of the slot 16. kThe bracket 86 also carries upper yand lower axles 90 and 91, the terminals of which carry guide and supporting wheels 92 which engage respectively the upper and lower surfaces of the floor on each side of the guideway or slot 16. Thus it can be seen that not only are the trucks themselves, provided with novel means for engaging the walls of the slots and means for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the floor on each side `of the Slot, but also means of arranging the advance of the trucks for engaging the walls of the slot and the upper and lower surfaces of the floor to prevent tipping of the forward end of the figures'. l

The trailing trucks 48 are all of4 substantially the same construction, and thus only one will be describedin detail.

Each of the trucks. 48 comprisesv upper and lower blocks 95 and 96 which are arranged in spaced relation to one another and held in place by means of ak loop portion 97 of the holding strap 98. This strap 98 is identical in construction with the straps 51 and 74 of the trucks 46 and 47 The strap for the loop portion 97 is extended to form a supporting arm 99, and the terminals of the strap .are bent at right angles toprovide attaching lugs or ears 100. Now it can be noticed at this point, that the arms 99 of the trucks 48 and the arms 52 of the trucks 46 and 47 can be extended different distances above the truck to conform to diiiferent curvaturesof the backs of the animals or figures, as will become hereinafter more fully apparent. The blocks 95 and 96 rotatably support a king pin` 101 which is identical in construction with the king pins 54 and 71 and these king vpins rockably receive the connecting rods 102 at the forward ends of the connecting rods 102, which are utilized for connecting Vthe trailing trucks together. Itis to be also noted that the connectingerod 5T which has its forward end lsupported by the king pin 54 is `connected to the forward leading truck 48 by means of a pivot bolt l04r t0 angle brackets 105 rigidly connected to the icc said truck. The rear terminals of all of the connecting rods 102 are connected by means of pivot bolts 106 with angle brackets 107 carried by the forward faces of the trucks 48. All of the king pins 101 carry suitable horizontally disposed wheels 108 for engaging the opposite walls of the slot 16 in the floor 15.` ,The upper and lower blocks 95 and 96 support suitable axles 109 and 110, the terminals of which carry the'fioor eugaging wheels 111 and 112 respectively and these wheels of course engage the opposite surfaces of the floor.

All of the trucks 48, 46 and 47 carry suitable supporting and propelling posts or standards 115, which form means for binding the trucks to the cables 40 and 41. Now if so desired the lower surfaces of the trucks can carry U-shaped loops 116 in lieu of the propelling or the supporting standards 115 to permit suspension carriages of the type shown in my prior Patent #1,447,895 dated March 6, 1923 to be connected therewith. Each of these standards 115 is connected by suitable means to the trucks and can be made in sections tofacilitate the positioning thereof around the cables 40 and 41, which they are adapted to embrace. The lower terminals of each standard 115 is bifurcated to form a yoke 117 which carries an axle 118 on lwhich is rotatably mounted a supporting guide wheel 119 which is adapted to engage the lower track 20 heretofore mentioned. The portions of each standard 115 through which the cables 40 and 41 extend are enlarged as at 120 and the standards are slotted above the enlarged portions as aty 121 and this slotted portion receives adjusting nuts 122 in which is threaded a stem 123. This stem engages a cable gripping head 124 and forms means for rigidly binding the standards to the cables. Y

lIt is also desirable to flexibly bind the standards 115 together in order to add rigidity to the vgures and as shown, the opposite faces of the standards are provided with pivot ears 125 which are adapted to engage pivot ears 126 formed on connecting links or blocks 127. Suitable hinge pins 128 extend through the ears 125 and 126.

A relatively heavy cable 130 is connected to the a taching ears or lugs 100 of the truck 48 and to the ears 53 ofthe trucks 46 and 47 and these cables 130 form the backbone of' the figure. The body of each figure also embodies supporting ribs 131 which can be made of resilient material if so desired. As shown these ribs 131 are in the nature of substantially circular-shaped open bands and the terminals of the bandsare bolted or otherwise secured to any preferred part of the trucks. Itis to be understood of course that the intermediate ribs 131 which are arranged between thetrucks are to be bolted or otherwise secured to the connecting rods 102, 67 and 68. The ribs 131 are now covered with any kindV of material to forma skin 133 for the figure and the skin of course is shaded so as to simulate the appearance of the animal, which the figures are to simulate. Anyl numberof seats or saddles135 are arranged upon the figures and these seats are arranged directly above the arms 99 and can be secured thereto if so desired.

New from the foregoing it can be seen that I have provided a novel and simple amusement appliance, which will form a 4 Vmaximum amount of pleasure for thepatrons of an amusement park which will be attended by a minimum amount of danger. It is to be noted however, that the appearance of the device is novel and that the same will give the effect of being crowded with dangerous curves, which will excite the patrons. Owing to the means of binding the trucks together the gures can take relatively short curves and when the device is in operation, the figures will give the appearancel of darting quickly in and out around the floor. v

. Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention.

What I claim as Vnew is:

1. In an amusement device, a tortuous guideway, endless cables arranged to travel about the guideway, figures arranged at spaced points on and ysecured to the cables, each of the figures including a plurality of independent trucks and means for flexibly connecting the trucks together.

2. In an amusement device, an endless tortuous guideway, an endless cable, means for guiding the cable about the guideway, a plurality of figures arranged to simulate the appearance of animals secured to the cable, each of the figures including independent trucks, `means flexibly binding the trucks together, and guide wheels carried by the trucks forengaging the guideway. n 3. In ,an amusement device, a tortuous endless guideway, an endless cable, means for training the cable about the guideway, figures simulatingV the appearance of creatures of the air, sea and land connected to the cables, each of the figures including a plurality of iiexibly connected trucks, guide wheels carried by certain of the trucks for engaging the guideway, propelling wheels carried by certain other of the trucks for engaging the gui-deway, and means for operating the propelling wheels.

4. In an amusement device of the character described, an endless tortuous guideway, an endless cable, means for training the cable about the guideway for traveling movement around the guideway, a plurality of figures carried by the cable, each of the gbetween the floor and track, means for guiding the cables about the tortuous slot and track, a plurality of figures, seats arranged on the figures, each of the figures including a plurality of trucks, means for binding the trucks together, depending supporting standards connected with the lower ends ofthe trucks, rollers carried by the standards for engaging the tra-ck, means carried by the standards for grip-ping the cables and guide rollers carried by the tracks for engaging the floor and of the gui-de slot.

6. In an amusement device, a floor having an endless tortuous guide slot therein, a track lof tortuous formation arranged belo-w the floor in alignment with the tortuous guide slot, guiding means arranged at predetermined spaced points around the guide slot below the floor, endless flexible cables trained about said guiding means arranged to follow the curvatures of the guide slot and track, figures arranged at spaced points on the cables each including a plurality of independent trucks, "means for binding the trucks together, wheels carried by the trucks for engaging the floor and walls of the slot, depending supporting standards carried by the trucks, a rotatable guide wheel carried by the lower end of each standard for engaging the track, cable gripping means carried by each standard for engagin the cable, and links connecting the stan ards together.

7. In an amusement device, a floor having an endless tortuous guide slot therein, rotatable drums disposedin spaced relation to the floor and arranged around the guide slot at spaced points, each of the drums including upper and lower guide sheaves, upper and lower endless cables trained around the outer surf-ace of certain of the sheaves and around the inner surface of certain other of the sheaves, flexible figures secured to the cables and seats on the figures.

8. In an amusement device, a floor having an endless tortuous guide slot therein, a track disposed below the oor in alignment with the guide slot, a plurality of rotatable drums arranged between the track and the oor disposed at spaced points around the guide slot, liexi'ble cables trained about the Outer surface 0f Certain, of the drums and the inner surface of certain other of the drums, a plurality of flexible figures, depending standards extending through the guide slot, rollers carried by the lower ends of the standards for engaging the track, guide rollers carried by the figures for engaging the upper and lower surface of' the Hoor and the walls of the guide slot, and cable gripping means carried by the standards for binding the standards to the cables.

9. In an amusement device, a figure including a plurality of trucks, means flexibly connecting the trucks together, spaced axles carried by the trucks, spacing wheels carried by the axles, a vertically disposed axle, and a horizontally disposed roller carried by the axle and arranged between the spacing rollers.

10. In an amusement device, a flexible figure including a plurality of trucks, a rotatable king pin carried by each truck, a horizontally disposed roller mounted upon the king pin, a head formed on the upper end of the king pin, a rockable block car ried by the head of the king pin, a connecting rod secured to the rockable block, the connecting rod extending rearwardly from the king pin, and means carried by the next adacent truck for receiving the connecting ro 11. In an amusement device, a fiexible figure including a plurality of trucks, each qf the trucks includin0r a frame, a pair of spaced blocks connected to the frame, liorizontally disposed. axles carried by the blocks, wheels mounted upon the axles arranged in a vertical plane and in alignment with one another, a rotatable kin pin carried by the axial center of the bloc s and a horizontally disposed roller carried by the king pin and arranged between the b-locks and the first mentioned rollers.

12. In an amusement device, a flexible ligure including a pair of propelling trucks and a plurality o trailing trucks, means for fiexibly binding all of the trucks together, guide wheels carried by the trailing trucks, propelling wheels carried by the propelling trucks, a motor, and means connecting the propelling wheels with the trailing trucks.

13. In an amusement device, a flexible figure including a air of propelling trucks and a plurality o trailing trucks, means for iexibly binding all of the trucks together, guide wheels carried by the trailing trucks, propelling wheels carried by one of the propellin trucks, a motor bed carried by t e prope ling trucks, an electric motor arranged on the bed, means operatively connecting the motor with the pro elling wheels, and a trolley wheel carried y the prppelling trucks for engaging an electric ca e.

14:. In an amusement device, a tortuous guideway, a figure arranged to travel aroundt the tortuous guidevvay including` a pair of propelling trucks and a plurality of trailing 5 trucks, means for flexibly connecting the trucks together, propellingf means carried by the propelling trucksa guide wheels carried by all of the trucks for engaging the Atortuous guideway, and a leading guide truck carried by the forward propelling truck and 10 horizontally vertically disposed Wheel carriages Carried by the leading truck.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REX SCHAFER. Witnesses:

ADA M. STANDEN, STERLING P. SMITH. 

